Apple is set to double the size of its campus in Cupertino, south of San Francisco in the heart of Silicon Valley – taking over a 98-acre block vacated by longtime near-neighbour Hewlett-Packard.

Apple needs the campus to house its rapidly growing workforce, which has expanded 12,300 to 46,600 in recent years.

Cupertino officials, who had been disappointed by H-P’s departure, said they were thrilled that Apple will now be the city’s biggest landowner.

“We’re very proud to have Apple’s headquarters in our city. It’s not just a company. It’s the company,” said Mayor Kris Wang.